BTC
-3.13%
72,559.00
USD
▼
MXN ≈ 1,261,371
cnbc.com
CVS to restore coverage of Zepbound, add Eli Lilly's obesity pill to drug plans
CVS will add Zepbound coverage on Oct. 1, and start covering Lilly's newly approved Foundayo pill on June 1.
theguardian.com
Number of young people in UK not in education, employment or training hits one million, figures reveal, as fears of a ‘lost generation’ rise – business live
Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial news, as number of UK ‘Neets’ hits 12-year highUK risks £125bn hit a year from youth unemployment, landmark report saysWe would like to hear from young people in the UK about their job hunting experienceElsewhere this morning, Labour has adopted regulations intended to prevent local councils from going bust after they make risky investments that jeopardise their finances.Ministers will be handed powers to intervene that have been dormant since 2003, the ministry of housing, communities and local government (MHCLG) said.“In Woking, Thurrock, and other councils we’ve seen poor investment decisions leaving taxpayers footing a big bill.“We can’t afford to wait until a council is on the brink of collapse to act. That’s why we want to bring in new powers so we can identify the risks and act before its too late.”“Many of Alan Milburn’s findings reflect the evidence received in our own inquiry on Youth Employment, Education and Training. We await Mr Milburn’s conclusions and recommendations, but when giving evidence to the Select Committee, he referred to the causes of the current youth employment crisis being as broad as they are deep. It’s clear that whatever his recommendations, it will require systemic change, needing a whole government approach to fix this.“We agree that this is not the so-called ‘snowflake’ generation that too many have referred to. But the urgency must be recognised. We cannot see the lives of so many young people be blighted in this way. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Oil prices jump 3% after Iran says it targeted U.S. airbase following fresh American strikes
Oil prices rose on Thursday after fresh U.S. strikes in Iran renewed concerns over disruptions to commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
cnbc.com
Gold tumbles to two-month low as inflation hedge status fades
Spot gold prices were trading at their lowest level since late March.
bbc.com
EU fines Temu €200m for allowing sale of illegal products
The European Commission says the Chinese-owned online retailer failed to take account of risks from baby toys and faulty chargers sold on its platform.
bbc.com
Young people out of work or training costing UK £125bn as report warns of 'perfect storm'
A report warns the UK is "at risk of a lost generation" with number of 16 to 24-year-olds out of work, education or training set to rise to 1.25 million by 2031.
theguardian.com
Google employee charged with using insider data to rig bets on Polymarket
US DoJ alleges software engineer Michele Spagnuolo, 36, earned $1.2m betting on Google’s most-searched listThe US justice department has charged a Google software engineer with using insider information to rig bets tied to Google’s most-searched list on prediction market Polymarket, earning $1.2m in profits, according to a complaint unsealed on Wednesday.Michele Spagnuolo, a 36-year-old Italian citizen, allegedly used insider information to bet on long-shot candidates like indie pop musician D4vd, who appeared on Google’s most-searched list after he was arrested and accused of murdering a teenage girl, according to the complaint. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Ferrari CEO defends $640,000 price tag for its first fully electric car
Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna on Thursday said the cost of the manufacturer's new Luce model was a fair price to pay for innovation.
cnbc.com
CNBC Daily Open: Oil falls on Iran peace hopes — then U.S. launches airstrikes
Global markets rally as investors continue to price in Middle East de-escalation.
theguardian.com
BP boardroom turmoil deepens as ousted chair hits back at ‘lies’ over conduct
Albert Manifold disputes reports about his behaviour and says he always tried to set exampleThe boardroom turmoil at BP deepened after its ousted chair, Albert Manifold, claimed allegations about his conduct were “lies”.In a new and lengthy statement, Manifold disputed reports about his conduct, saying: “At no point in my tenure as chairman of BP has anyone raised with me any issue about my conduct or my relationship with my colleagues.” Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Feeding the future of France: Rollout of €1 meals an attempt to help struggling students
It’s a thumbs up from the country’s 3 million students, who can now buy cheap meals up to twice a dayWhere in France can you get a nutritious and balanced three-course meal for €1?If you are one of the country’s estimated 3 million students in higher education, the answer is: the university restaurant or cafe. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘It’s like Dunkirk for the construction industry!’ The small team rescuing London’s precious building materials
Joel de Mowbray’s salvage scheme began as a small milk float converted into a logging vehicle – now he’s part of Tipping Point East, a massive site designed to divert valuable waste materials to builders that need itJoel de Mowbray reached breaking point with UK construction in south London in 2020. He was working on a lovely building project, part of Lambeth council’s scheme to make streets more pedestrian-friendly. De Mowbray was installing a public wooden seating area in an underused stretch of street.“The council were doing treeworks the entire time we were building, felling trees right next to us,” he says. “But we had to go to Ashdown Forest for our supplies. That felt bonkers to me: they were creating the exact material we needed next to our site.” Continue reading...
bbc.com
Ousted BP chairman hits back at 'lies' about his behaviour
Albert Manifold said no-one should be "allowed to hide behind anonymity" when commenting on his time at BP.
theguardian.com
Young first-time buyers face toughest time since financial crisis, says UK housebuilder
Barratt Redrow boss says rising interest rates, higher student debt and squeeze on wages hitting property dreamBusiness live – latest updatesThe boss of Britain’s largest housebuilder has said it is the most challenging time to be a first-time buyer since the financial crisis, as the dream of home ownership moves increasingly out of reach for many young people.A combination of rising interest rates, higher levels of student debt and the squeeze on wages is making it “challenging, very, very difficult” for young people to get on the housing ladder, according to David Thomas, the departing chief executive of Barratt Redrow. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘A record of failure’: what’s in the first part of Alan Milburn’s Neet report?
The former minister paints damning picture of structural issues affecting 1 million young people in the UKAlan Milburn, the Blair-era cabinet minister turned social mobility adviser, has delivered the first part of his government-commissioned report on why increasing numbers of people aged 16 to 24 are not in education, employment or training (Neet).Its 217 pages cover the extent and causes of the issue – with possible solutions coming in his next report – and set out a hugely detailed and damning picture of what Milburn calls a “record of failure”, one that is letting down young people. These are some of its main points. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘Instagram truly is the new LinkedIn’: why gen Z is using social media to get hired
In this competitive market, gen Z has started to turn to untraditional ways to land a job – including dating appsSibusisiwe Khupe, 26, entered the job market once again in September after a wave of unexpected layoffs at London marketing agency Wieden+Kennedy.She knew landing her next full-time role was not going to be easy. Young workers have been hit hard by the weakening UK job market as vacancies fall and unemployment climbs to a five-year high. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
This AI stock is surging after an ex-OpenAI employee's fund disclosed a stake. Here's why
Dutch cloud provider Nebius popped in premarket trading after an ex-OpenAI employee's fund took a sizeable stake in the firm,
cnbc.com
European defense stocks rally after Ukraine ratifies $105 billion EU loan deal; regional indices fall
European stocks were broadly lower on Thursday as investors assessed news related to the Iran war and developments in Ukraine.
cnbc.com
LG Energy Solution's shares surge as much as 16% after landing major U.S. battery storage deal
The deal comes as the South Korean battery company expands its energy storage systems business in the U.S.
cnbc.com
Nio shares jump 10% after releasing first flagship EV in more than two years
Chinese electric car company Nio has launched two lower-priced brands in the last two years to broaden its customer base in a sluggish Chinese consumer market.
cnbc.com
Mistral to explore designing own chips, CEO says, as it ramps up infrastructure build
Mistral's semiconductor ambitions underscore the French startup's bid to control more of its infrastructure as it competes with OpenAI and Anthropic.
cnbc.com
Ousted BP chair Albert Manifold rejects ‘lies’ over his conduct
BP's board on Tuesday announced the removal of Manifold due to "serious concerns" relating to governance standards, oversight and conduct.
cnbc.com
Middle East tensions rattle Asia markets after fresh U.S. strikes in Iran
Asia-Pacific markets fell Thursday while oil prices surged after fresh U.S. strikes in Iran heightened fears of a wider Middle East conflict.
theguardian.com
Brexit rules on food exports to be scrapped, government confirms
Agreement affecting meat, plants and packaging promises to end paperwork ‘hell’ and border delays from 2027Business live – latest updatesBrexit rules affecting UK food exports to the EU, including fresh sausages and burgers, will be scrapped from mid-2027 in the first confirmed result of Keir Starmer’s “reset” negotiations with Brussels, the government has announced.When the rules come into force, exporters of meat – whether fresh, frozen or processed – will no longer require costly veterinary certificates to prove they meet EU standards. Nor will they need similar documentation for plants or wood packaging material. Businesses selling into Northern Ireland will no longer require health labels. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
'King of Cashmere' CEO on outperforming the luxury slowdown: Don't be greedy
Brunello Cucinelli's success is tied to its ethos of choosing long-term integrity over short-term margin chasing, CEO Riccardo Stefanelli told CNBC.
bbc.com
The £5 coffee that tells a story of global economic turmoil
Coffees at some city centre outlets now cost £5. It's a story of tariffs, the climate, Gen Z cultural tastes, and savvy coffee farmers playing the market, writes Faisal Islam
cnbc.com
Energy inflation has been more persistent than expected, Fed's Goolsbee tells CNBC
While oil prices have recently fallen on news that a peace deal between the U.S. and Iran could come, prices are still significantly higher than before the war.
cnbc.com
Fed’s Kashkari tells CNBC that inflation fight takes priority as labor market is 'in decent shape'
The Minneapolis Fed President warned that persistently high inflation risks becoming embedded in consumer expectations, potentially forcing tougher policy action later.
cnbc.com
CNBC Daily Open: Hostilities heat up, market rally cools
Stocks in Asia sink and oil prices rally as the U.S. and Iran trade fresh strikes and intercept drone attacks.
bbc.com
Oil prices jump after US launches new attacks on Iran
The strikes come despite a ceasefire between Tehran and Washington as the two countries hold peace talks.
theguardian.com
Greener pasture of a shepherd’s life lures Chinese workers penned in by ‘996’ jobs
When an Inner Mongolia farmer sought two herders to tend his 3,000 sheep, he was swamped with applicants including graduates, factory labourers and white-collar workersA Chinese farm owner’s recruitment drive for shepherds has ended in success after his job advert seeking people to work on his Inner Mongolia ranch went viral, drawing the attention of city dwellers struggling to find work and highlighting growing strains in China’s labour market.Zuo Xiaoyong posted an advert on Chinese social media in late April seeking two shepherds, preferably a couple, to take 3,000 sheep out to graze on a 2,000ha pasture in the summer. The shepherds would also undertake indoor feeding and cleaning during the winter when temperatures can drop below -30C at his ranch roughly 300km from Xilinhot city, near the Mongolian border. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Silver could fall further after latest slump, analysts say as they warn of demand destruction
Silver's rally of over 140% last year is deterring buyers in various industries and its elevated price levels are beginning to weigh on demand, UBS said.
theguardian.com
Britain ‘sleepwalking into a food crisis’ without urgent action, experts say
Industry figures warn of national security risk and call for ministers to address impact of extreme weather, inflation and Iran warBritain is “sleepwalking into a food crisis” caused by extreme weather, inflation and the impacts of the Iran war – and the government is failing to take the threat seriously, food experts have said.Farmers are facing severe strain from the current heatwave following a dry spring, with many crops likely to yield less as temperatures rise beyond their tolerance. Livestock are also suffering heat stress and there is a rising risk of wildfires. Economic losses are likely to be measured in the hundreds of millions of pounds. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Cigarette butts for free food? How one group is asking people to rethink litter
The WasteBar food truck hopes the eye-catching deal will change people’s attitude to waste in the NetherlandsUsing cigarette butts to buy buttery Dutch pancakes? That is the deal one food truck is offering at festivals in the Netherlands as a way to get people thinking about litter.Cigarette butts are the most common form of plastic waste in the world, with more than 4.5tn butts produced every year. In the Netherlands the estimated figure is in the hundreds of millions. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Australia sues 3M for record $2bn sum over Pfas ‘forever chemicals’ in firefighting foam
Federal government seeks damages from multinational manufacturer over contamination at defence sites in its largest legal claim everFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe Australian government said on Thursday it had launched legal action against the multinational manufacturer 3M over Pfas chemical contamination at defence bases, seeking damages of more than $2bn (US$1.4bn).The attorney general, Michelle Rowland, said the use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as “forever chemicals”, in firefighting foam had caused major environmental and economic harm, resulting in the largest legal claim ever brought by the federal government. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Kuwait air defenses activated against 'missile and drone threats'; U.S. carries out new strikes in Iran
This comes as tensions in the Middle East escalated once again, with the U.S. military carrying out new strikes overnight in Iran.
theguardian.com
To reverse the ‘greenlash’, Europe’s Green parties should embrace Polanski’s boldness | Tarik Abou-Chadi
Be more strident and ambitious, take on economic inequality, and progressive voters will reward you as they have the UK’s GreensTarik Abou-Chadi is a professor of European politics at the University of OxfordEuropean Green parties have been through a phase of stagnation and crisis in recent years. Long gone seem the days of the “green wave” across Europe. Back in 2019, Green parties secured their best-ever result in the European parliament elections, with 74 seats. In the same year, Green parties also scored record results in Switzerland, Belgium and Austria. Shortly after, they were part of governing coalitions in Finland, Germany, Ireland and Austria.But more recently, there has been much discussion of a “greenlash”: a backlash against climate policies and other green projects throughout Europe. Across the continent, Green parties dropped out of nearly all government coalitions, and these parties’ recent election results have often failed to meet expectations. With apparently declining enthusiasm for the climate movement, and the decreasing salience of climate breakdown at the ballot box, Green parties are debating how to turn their fortunes around.Tarik Abou-Chadi is a professor of European politics at the University of OxfordDo you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Are robots nearing their ChatGPT moment? – podcast
Last month at Beijing’s half marathon, a robot named Lightning beat the human world record by nearly seven minutes. It’s the latest in a string of AI-powered milestones that have got people wondering whether robots are about to enter our everyday lives, just as chatbots have. And the country leading the charge is China, where the government has pledged to invest more than £100bn in robotics over the next 20 years. To find out how robots are already entering the workforce, and what needs to happen to get them cleaning our homes and weeding our gardens, Ian Sample hears from the Guardian’s senior China correspondent, Amy Hawkins, and from Nathan Lepora, professor of robotics and AI at Bristol University, who researches how robots can achieve human-like dexterityClips: Global News, BBC, CGTN Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘This isn’t freedom’: anger, anxiety and tears as Iran’s internet flickers back
After 88 days of near-total blackout, first reactions to the return of partial connectivity were not celebratoryAfter 88 days of near-total internet blackout in Iran, long-delayed messages, images and poems flooded phones and social media feeds at about 5pm on Tuesday, when still-limited connectivity flickered back to life.The first reactions, however, were not celebratory. Many new posts were threaded with scepticism, anxiety and anger. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
The strange surveilled life of Piper Rockelle: why did a former child influencer decide to go on OnlyFans?
She made millions as a tween and teenager by posting clips of herself and her friends on YouTube. Then the business collapsed amid acrimony. What does her success in the adult industry, at 18, say about surveillance, social media and sexualisation?‘Honestly, the answer is kind of gross,” says Piper Rockelle, in a recent TikTok video, reflecting on why she is so popular on OnlyFans. In the clip, she fidgets her fingers and swings in her swivel chair. “It’s because I look so young. I mean, I am really young. I’m literally like fresh turned 18 … and people kind of like that, unfortunately.”This is an accurate and honest assessment. At the end of last year, not long after turning 18, the former child star and teen influencer began an online countdown, telling her millions of followers on TikTok and Instagram that she would be launching herself on OnlyFans on 1 January. Every day or so since, she has posted pictures of herself on the platform, sometimes posing in a typical teenager’s bedroom – a pink cuddly stuffed pig on the bed behind her, fairy lights on the wall – wearing teddy-bear-themed pants and bras, or fluffy underwear decorated with bunny-rabbit faces and floppy ears. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Australia sues US giant 3M over 'forever chemicals' in firefighting foam
The A$2bn case, which centres on contamination at defence sites, is the largest ever brought by the government.
theguardian.com
Patagonia sues drag queen Pattie Gonia for trademark infringement
Outdoor clothing company is suing US environmentalist drag performer for $1 plus legal fees, claiming ‘we wish we didn’t have to do this’Patagonia has launched a trademark lawsuit against an environmentalist drag queen named Pattie Gonia, who has accused the outdoor clothing company of “trying to erase an activist”.Wyn Wiley, who performs as Pattie Gonia, has accumulated millions of followers online for their environmental activism, raising almost $4m for non-profits so far. Last year they raised $1m while hiking 100 miles in full drag from Point Reyes national seashore to San Francisco. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Google worker charged with using internal data to make $1.2m on bets
The longtime Google employee was charged in New York for allegedly breaking insider trading laws.
cnbc.com
Google employee charged with $1M Polymarket insider trading bet on search term
The complaint from the Southern District of New York comes just over a month after another insider trading case on Polymarket.
bbc.com
Why Fifa is being investigated over World Cup ticket prices
New York and New Jersey are looking into the association after fans have reportedly been "misled" over ticket sales and seat locations.
theguardian.com
Trump says 'Oman will behave' with strait of Hormuz as he threatens to 'blow them up' – video
The US president made the threat during a US cabinet meeting after reports of discussions between Iran and Oman about jointly charging a toll for ships passing through the Hormuz strait. Donald Trump said that under a potential deal with Tehran, the key waterway would open immediately but not be controlled by anybody, warning: 'Oman will behave just like everybody else. Or else we’ll have to blow them up. They understand that'Trump threatens to ‘blow up’ Oman amid talks over strait of Hormuz Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Inside India newsletter: Iran war disruptions, Modi's appeal to boost India's hospitality sector
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal to curb foreign travel is proving to be a boon to the local travel industry.
cnbc.com
Analysis: What Stephen Miller gets wrong about debt, deficits and immigration
The White House immigration hawk and deputy chief of staff is pointing the finger in the wrong direction when assigning blame for the federal budget deficit.
bbc.com
Is 'out of control' US tipping culture spreading overseas?
With US waiting staff getting cross at receiving less than 20%, tips are also on the rise elsewhere.
cnbc.com
Former CIA chief Petraeus says drone swarms are the next danger — and growth opportunity
Unmanned systems will be one of the biggest security threats and structural growth opportunities in defense over the next decade: David Petraeus
cnbc.com
Salesforce beats on earnings and revenue but full-year guidance comes in light
Salesforce has been hammered by investors on concern that artificial intelligence models and services will disrupt some traditional software products.
cnbc.com
Snowflake rockets 36% on earnings beat and plan to spend $6 billion on Amazon cloud
Snowflake is going deeper with Amazon's Web Services, and plans to use its Arm-based Graviton chips.
cnbc.com
Amazon's top health exec is stepping down, will be replaced by Amwell co-founder
The company is tapping Dr. Roy Schoenberg, a cofounder of telemedicine provider Amwell, to replace Lindsay.
bbc.com
The world's carmakers are struggling to compete with China
The BBC visited China’s EV factories and found they are dominating the ecosystems shaping the global auto industry.
cnbc.com
After Ferrari Luce backlash, Lamborghini CEO says canceling its own EV was the right choice
Lamborghini CEO said the automaker's decision to kill its EV to focus on plug-in hybrid electric vehicles was "the right way to go" for his company.
theguardian.com
Trump administration has paid $20bn in tariff refunds, with $65bn more to come
Refunds came after the supreme court ruled Trump overstepped his authority in enacting sweeping tariffsUS importers are expected to receive $85bn in tariff refunds after the supreme court struck down Donald Trump’s tariffs in February, according to US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the agency that collects tariffs.Importers and shippers have so far been refunded $20bn, according to court documents filed on Tuesday, with about $65bn more on the way. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
The Guardian view on Tony Blair’s advice for Labour: policymaking like it’s 1999 will not lead to a revival | Editorial
A scathing essay by the former prime minister rehashes assumptions that underpinned his own rise to power. But the challenges are quite different nowA paradox lies at the heart of Sir Tony Blair’s latest sermon to a Labour party that he seems actively to dislike these days. The 5,700-word intervention, published on the website of his Institute for Global Change, emphasises the sheer novelty of challenges such as the AI revolution and the rise of insurgent populism in western democracies. Yet the advice he offers is based on assumptions unchanged since he was bashing “old Labour” in the 1990s.In his essay, Sir Tony suggests that Labour’s “infinite capacity for self-delusion” is set to lose it the next election, irrespective of who is leading the party and the country by then. Only if it embodies a “radical centre”, he argues, can the government deliver the rises in growth and productivity that Britain desperately needs. This, it turns out, means rejecting more or less any policy that smacks of progressive ambition and intent.Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Lifting of internet restrictions reveals Iranians’ anger over food inflation
As government begins restoring connection, population voices dismay over food price increases and shortagesThe partial lifting of internet restrictions in Iran has revealed a rising tide of anger about food price inflation as ordinary Iranians decry annual price increases of 308% for vegetable oil, 190% for chicken, and 170% for rice.Iranian authorities on Tuesday began restoring the connection to the global internet that was severed on the first day of the US-Israeli war against the Islamic Republic on 28 February, as it had been during mass protests in January. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Why is Ferrari facing such a backlash to its first electric car?
The Italian marque has broken with the past with its four-door, €550,000 Luce and traditionalists are furiousFerrari is different from other carmakers, and so are its product launches. So revered is the company in its native Italy that among the first people to sit behind the wheel of its first electric vehicle were the country’s president and the pope. Yet judging by the backlash from investors, some critics and – inevitably – a horde of online commenters, the company may need help from a higher power if it is to win over its traditional fanbase.The Luce – pronounced “loo-chey”, Italian for “light” – is priced for the super-wealthy, at €550,000 (£476,000), with an electric motor for each wheel and the ability to get from zero to 100km/h in 2.5 seconds. But the design, led by the former Apple executive Jony Ive in collaboration with Marc Newson, has proven controversial. It is certainly unlike anything Ferrari has made before. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Blair wants to leave our future to the markets. I believe democracy can still shape our lives for the better | Wes Streeting
The inequality caused by technological innovation is not a given. Labour can harness that change to serve society, not dominate itStreeting and Burnham accuse Blair of failing to confront inequality in Labour criticismTony Blair is right about one thing: we are living through a historic rupture. The old certainties of the 20th century are breaking apart under the pressure of technological revolution, geopolitical instability and economic insecurity. AI will transform how we work, learn and govern as profoundly as steam power or electricity reshaped the world before it.Britain needs a seriousness equal to the scale of that challenge – and Labour needs the confidence to shape the future rather than retreat into arguments about the past. The answer to global disruption cannot be a longing for the Britain of the 1970s, nor even the Britain of the 1990s. The task of progressive politics is not to recreate yesterday, but to ensure ordinary working people have power, protection and opportunity in the world now emerging.Wes Streeting is Labour MP for Ilford NorthDo you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Why paying £5 for a latte is here to stay
Poor coffee harvests in Brazil and Vietnam are just some of the factors driving up the price of your morning cup of coffee.
theguardian.com
HS2: white elephant or vital addition to Britain’s rail network? | Letters
Readers respond to Simon Jenkins’ article in which he called for the project to be scrappedSimon Jenkins’ argument is shortsighted and ignores the fundamental reason that HS2 was designed in the first place – the west coast mainline is full and the UK is rattling towards its worst transport bottleneck (HS2 is the wildest white elephant in British history. Please put it out of its misery, 21 May). Cost and schedule overruns invite legitimate scrutiny and reflect failures that must be addressed. But they do not invalidate the need for additional rail capacity that will deliver transformational benefits to the north, including vital freight capacity and improved regional connectivity.With unemployment on the rise, major infrastructure programmes aren’t just about capacity and connectivity. They are critical to creating high-quality careers and supporting the UK supply chain. HS2 is already doing both. From tunnel facilities in Hartlepool to working with local West Midlands firms, HS2 is supporting more than 30,000 jobs, sustaining highly skilled workers and apprenticeships, and strengthening small and medium-sized enterprises across every region. The bridges, viaducts and tunnels delivered so far are a testament to this country’s continued engineering excellence. Continue reading...
bbc.com
How you can save money on your energy bill
Experts say action now can save money when the pinch comes this winter.
theguardian.com
Student loans inquiry responses show ‘massive scale of frustration and upset’
More than 52,000 people respond to Commons committee’s call for evidence amid criticism of loan termsThousands of graduates have told an official inquiry their horror stories and bad experiences relating to student loans, underlining what the chair of an MPs’ committee called massive levels of “frustration and upset”.Amid an ongoing row over the ballooning cost of degree course debts, more than 52,000 people responded to a call for evidence by the Commons Treasury select committee as part of its inquiry into student loans and the taxation of graduates. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Jamie Dimon says JPMorgan Chase could spend $20 billion on acquisition: 'We are on the lookout'
A $20 billion deal would be among the largest in JPMorgan's history and could invite regulatory scrutiny given its position as the largest U.S. bank by assets.
theguardian.com
Nicola Jennings on Tony Blair’s critique of Labour policy – cartoon
Continue reading...
bbc.com
'I fear for my son's farming future due to costs'
One farmer says his red diesel costs have risen from £27,000 a year to £54,000.
theguardian.com
UK heatwave triggers price rises for hot tubs and air conditioning units
Of 11 seasonal items in Guardian price comparison, six hit highest price in last three months, with some nearly doubling in price in last weekThe heatwave has triggered a surge in prices for seasonal items, with the cost of one inflatable hot tub nearly doubling in a week, while an industry expert said air conditioning units had risen by about 17% since April.The Guardian looked at popular items across a range of websites and examined their prices on PriceRunner, an independent price comparison service. One of the biggest price increases was for the Bestway inflatable hot tub Lay-Z-Spa Cancún AirJet, which was available for £160 on 21 May but now retails for a minimum of £299. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Tony Blair is strong on diagnosis, deluded on prescription: Britain’s ills can’t be fixed by him | Larry Elliott
The former PM’s essay rightly calls for a coherent economic plan, but then sets too much store by AI – and a worldview stuck in the pastTony Blair is right. Labour has made some big and avoidable mistakes since it came to power nearly two years ago. Keir Starmer had a strategy for winning the election but lacked a coherent plan for what his government would do next. Fair cop.Blair is also correct when he says that unless Britain tackles some long-term structural issues, it is in danger of being relegated from the “premier league of nations”. Achieving higher levels of sustainable growth is one challenge. Welfare reform is another. And as the former prime minister notes, reversing Brexit is not a solution to those problems.Larry Elliott is a Guardian columnist Continue reading...
bbc.com
How a rise in energy bills will affect you from July
Household energy prices will rise by 13% a year in July, as soaring wholesale costs caused by the US-Israel war with Iran hit bills for the first time.
cnbc.com
Energy shock starts to bite in Europe: UK household bills set for 'deeply unwelcome' 2-year high
“Ongoing conflict in the Middle East is impacting the price we pay for energy,” the head of the U.K.’s energy regulator said.
bbc.com
Why it's now harder to get a Saturday job
The boss of Next has warned there has been a "dramatic fall" in the number of entry-level job opportunities in the UK.
theguardian.com
Power to the people: how ‘balcony solar’ could help fight rising US utility costs
More Americans are using small solar panels in their back yards or balconies as a clean way to cut their electric billsIf you feel like your electricity bill just keeps climbing, you aren’t imagining it. Since 2020, US residential energy prices have surged by about 30%, making power the largest household energy expense behind gasoline, according to the US Energy Information Administration.But for residents like Alex Curtis, the days of feeling powerless against rising costs are coming to an end. Curtis is waging a war on his electric bill, and his new weapon of choice is a lightweight, thin-film solar panel. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Energy price cap in Great Britain to rise by 13% from July
Average gas and electricity bill to jump to £1,862 a year from July until end of September, in part because of Iran warHouseholds will face the steepest summer rise in energy charges in four years after months of soaring market prices caused the government’s energy price cap for Great Britain to climb by 13%.Under the cap the average gas and electricity bill will increase to the equivalent of £1,862 a year from July until the end of September to take account of the rise in global energy market prices caused by the war on Iran, up from £1,641 a year in April to June. Continue reading...
bbc.com
What will the energy cap changes mean for my bills?
Typical annual household bills will rise by 13% when the new energy cap takes effect on 1 July.
bbc.com
'I've given up eating hot meals to pay energy bills to keep my son alive'
More than half of parents of disabled children and young people are skipping meals to pay their bills.
theguardian.com
The World Cup of kits: who are the winners for 2026?
The World Cup is two weeks away, but the chatter around kits has been going for a while. From riffs on much-loved favourites to new entries with the potential to become future classics, here are the 10 fashion picks to become familiar with before the tournament Continue reading...
bbc.com
The rise of the fruit that tastes like custard
Custard apple plants are prized for their hardiness but exporting their delicate fruit is difficult.
theguardian.com
Trump’s corruption leaves us cynical – and complacent | Judith Levine
Impunity breeds popular cynicism, and cynicism undergirds autocracyAs his mentor Roy Cohn counseled, Donald Trump never admits wrongdoing or apologizes. But he occasionally evinces something resembling a qualm. In October, considering renewing claims against the government for $230m in compensation for federal investigations against him, he reflected on his own appointees deciding on the payout and him signing off on it. “It sort of looks bad, I’m suing myself, right?” he said. “So, I don’t know.”That month, when he demolished the White House East Wing to build his ballroom, he made it sort of look good by vowing that the now $400m project would be privately funded. It went without saying that the donors would expect gratitude in the form of government contracts or favorable regulatory rulings. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Russia just passed a law allowing its central bank to down drones
Russia's State Duma has passed a law allowing certain financial institutions to operate anti-drone defense systems after attacks on its territory.
cnbc.com
UK spy chief: Time is running out for the West to confront threats from Russia and China
Britain and its allies face a “moment of consequence,” according to the head of its intelligence agency.
bbc.com
Energy bills to rise for millions as impact of Iran war hits
A household using a typical amount of energy will pay £221 a year more, under the regulator's new price cap.
theguardian.com
The establishment reaction to Andy Burnham’s rise is a sign of the fight to come | Clive Lewis
The old settlement will not politely bow out for its replacement – which is why progressives must take action on these three frontsVery often, I find, science fiction names what politics struggles to. In James SA Corey’s series of novels the Expanse, the violent dystopian streets of Baltimore are given a name for what happens when the old order breaks down faster than people can describe it: the Churn. It is the brutal reorganisation of power, when familiar rules collapse and those who survive are the ones who read the signs early.Britain is in one now. In fact, two churns are happening at once.Clive Lewis is the Labour MP for Norwich SouthClive Lewis will be speaking about these issues and more with Andy Burnham at Change Now! Mobilising the Progressive Majority Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘It’s getting hotter and it’s not stopping’: dealing with the heat in five of Europe’s capitals
Tourists and locals in Madrid, Paris, London, Dublin and Berlin share their experiences of the unseasonable May temperaturesIn recent days across parts of Europe, temperatures have soared, heat records have been broken and spring has felt more like the height of summer. Météo France, the French national weather service, has attributed this to a “heat dome”, with warmth held in place by a high-pressure weather front that has produced temperatures more than 10C above what used to be usual for this time of year.Human-caused climate breakdown is supercharging extreme weather around the world, driving deadly extremes that can strike at abnormal times in unusual places and claim lives. Continue reading...
bbc.com
'Bullying' and 'overbearing' behaviour behind abrupt BP chairman removal
BP declined to comment on whether bullying behaviour was part of the reason for his immediate dismissal.
bbc.com
Farmers' warning as milk prices fall below cost
Farmers worry more family farms will be sold unless dairy prices rise quickly.
bbc.com
Ferrari shares slump after it unveils first fully electric car
The new Luce model has divided opinion on social media, and comes despite intense pressure from Chinese EV makers.
bbc.com
Booming AI chip demand helps create two new $1tn club members
SK Hynix and Micron are the latest tech firms to join the growing list of stocks with mega valuations.
theguardian.com
‘Catnomics’: how Japan’s feline fixation has become an industry worth billions
Their influence is evident in every corner of society, the imperial family owns some, and Tokyo even has its own ‘cat town’Feline features stare out from the covers of umpteen novels, they have an officially designated day devoted to their mystique and popularity, and have outnumbered dogs as pets for a decade.The influence of cats is evident across every corner of Japanese society, with a recent report crediting them with generating an expected ¥3tn ($18.8bn) in value to the Japanese economy this year – a phenomenon dubbed “catnomics”. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Champion ethical hacker warns AI tools like Mythos will make competing harder
Chompie, one of the world's tops ethical hackers, says AI like Claude Mythos will make it harder for people like her to compete.
bbc.com
Instagram betting ads featuring Kane and Haaland banned
The advertising watchdog said the adverts featuring top footballers had a strong appeal to under-18s.
bbc.com
Post Office investigation could be delayed by five years, police warn
The commander leading the national police inquiry says the size of the investigation team would need to double in order to meet its current timeline
theguardian.com
A pension system that is unfair and unaffordable | Letters
Guardian readers respond to an article by Zoe Williams which argued that cutting the welfare bill should start with pensionsZoe Williams seeks to stimulate a debate about pensions and intergenerational inequality, but seems to have overlooked the issues surrounding the funding of public-sector defined-benefit (DB) pension schemes (All this talk about ‘difficult’ cuts, yet the largest part of Britain’s welfare bill is never mentioned. Why?, 21 May).Such schemes place enormous pressure on public finances; they typically require a more significant employer contribution – often more than 25% – compared with private-sector defined-contribution (DC) schemes, where employer contributions of around 3%-8% are typical. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
NS&I failures pile on the agony for bereaved families chasing missing premium bonds
Errors and delays in tracing accounts at the trusted savings institution have compounded the stress of relatives losing loved ones“It has been more than a year of hell,” says Kate Constable about the time it took to claim £46,000 in premium bonds belonging to her late mother.The process was drawn out because National Savings and Investments (NS&I) rules mean anyone claiming a savings pot of more than £5,000 must obtain probate first. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘I’m throwing everything at it’: one young man’s search for a job in Britain’s ‘worklessness capital’
High unemployment and a lack of support mean life can be tough in Grimsby, but 19-year-old Cohen is determined to make the best of life in this coastal townIt’s mid-afternoon in the Lincolnshire seaside town of Cleethorpes and Cohen is sitting in the back seat of a car putting on an Easter bunny outfit. A group of teenagers nearby stare in amusement. Cohen isn’t fazed. He is hoping we can take some new photographs that he can use to advertise his mascot business for the upcoming holidays.Cohen, 19, lives with his parents a couple of miles down the road in neighbouring Grimsby and set up Co Co Mascots last year as one of his many attempts to find work. People can hire him in one of the outfits for birthday parties, events and doorstep surprises for children. He’s done a few paid gigs so far, which has been a boost for his confidence, he says, but what he really wants is a permanent job.Cohen, who is looking for a permanent job, makes money as a mascot at birthday parties and events Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Nurseries in England charging extra fees to cover funding gap, campaigners say
Head of Early Years Alliance says additional charges paid by parents represent ‘cross-subsidy’Parents of nursery children in England are being charged extra fees to cover for government underfunding of free childcare hours, with some paying thousands of pounds a year for consumables such as food, wipes and nappies, campaigners have said.The comments came as the education secretary, Bridget Phillipson, asked the competition watchdog to investigate hidden extra charges that parents have encountered when trying to access government-funded childcare. Continue reading...
bbc.com
This beach hut costs the same as a three-bedroom house
A beach hut has gone on the market for £200,000 - the same price as some houses further along the Welsh coast.
bbc.com
Morocco wants tourists to visit Western Sahara. Some say it's tightening its control
The Moroccan government wants more Western holidaymakers to visit the territory it claims to own.
bbc.com
'Six eggs used to be £1' - why everyday essentials cost so much more now
Six supermarket brand eggs cost £1 in 2022. How much are they now, why have they gone up, and is anyone profiteering?
bbc.com
The Leeds designer outlet that's 15 miles from Leeds
A rebrand of the junction 32 retail park off the M62 has gone down poorly with some locals in Castleford.
bbc.com
Why are unpaid debt court cases rising?
Why are unpaid debt court cases rising?
bbc.com
Love factually: Dating start-ups promise to cut the cheats
Frustration with fake dating profiles has spurred new dating services with different approaches.
bbc.com
The fight against foreign developers buying Caribbean beaches
Campaigners in Barbuda, Grenada and Jamaica say they can no longer access their coastlines.
bbc.com
Robo-top: The machines that could make your next t-shirt
Most clothes are made in Asia, but new machines could bring some of that work back to the West.
bbc.com
Why does Amazon have no Western rivals?
The internet giant dwarfs other online retailers on both sides of the Atlantic.
bbc.com
Rise in solar panel sales as people 'want to save money'
One director, who has just bought 2,000 panels, hopes to safeguard the company's future bills.
bbc.com
Inside the secretive and lucrative world of orchid breeding
It can take a decade to bring a new orchid to market, so breeders keep their hi-tech processes secret.
bbc.com
Smart glasses are 'an invasion of privacy' - Meta's are selling better than ever
The biggest tech firms are set to sell millions of smart glasses despite growing privacy concerns.
bbc.com
The threat to summer holidays looming from jet fuel shortages
What impact might shortages have on our summer holidays - and what could be done about it?
bbc.com
Scammers are becoming ever more sophisticated - this is what the fightback looks like
Scams have exploded over the last few years. Can countries and companies come together to turn the tables on the scammers?
bbc.com
The £5.30 orange juice that tells the story of why supermarket prices are sky high
Butter, chocolate, coffee and milk have all seen prices rocket. Tracing back through the story of one particular supermarket staple begins to explain why
bbc.com
Prepare for turbulence - how a prolonged Middle East conflict could reshape how we fly
The Gulf's hub airports made long-distance travel cheaper - but now their future looks unclear.
bbc.com
Sir John Curtice: Why Labour's Brexit focus has shifted from Leavers to Remainers
Will the pursuit of a closer relationship with the EU risk courting electoral disaster by alienating Brexit-backing voters?
💬 Comments